Nursing bottle device



Filed Sept. 16, 1931 p5 m m Te m UNMP m R V m m m g D R E T M W Patented Oct. 25, 1932 parser t me WALTER 1). FORBES, 013 SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFOBNEA NURSING BOTTLE DEVICE Application filed September 16, 1931.

This invention relates to nursing bottles as used for feeding milk to babies, and in particular to the so-called sanitary nursing bottles which are of a substantially uniform diameter without constricted necl; and with a large opening on top to facilitate washing.

The objects of the invention are to provide means whereby the rubber nipples may be easily applied over the mouth of such bottles.

Nursing bottles of the character under consideration are about 2 inches in. diameter and formed with a lip around the upper open end, and over which lip it is necessary to stretch a gum rubber nipple after the bottle has been filled with milk. T he application of this nipple is dillicult, as the rubher is very tough and hard to stretch or work over the bottle with the fingers, so that frequently the bottle is upset and the milk spilled in applying the nipple.

The device of the invention is designed for the particular purpose of applying these nipples to the bottle with no etlort and no danger of upsetting the bottle. Two variations of the device are shown in the drawing accompanying this application, but both embrace the same generic feature, i. e., that the device is formed to spread the nipple and slip over the bottle to pass downward and oil while depositing the nipple in place stretched over the lip of the bottle.

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of my preferred form of device shown with nipple and bottle in position for applying.

Fig. 2- is a plan View of the device 01' Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan View of a modified form of my device.

Fig. a is a side elevation of the modified form and with a nipple dotted in place.

Fig. 5 is a reduced size perspective View showing the mode of using the modified form of device to apply the nipple.

In further detail (Figs. 1 and 2) 1 is the common form of sanitary nursing bottle and 2 is a vertical section of the rubber nipple to be applied. This nipple is positioned within an applicator device here shown as made of wire, though it may be made of metal of any Serial No. 563,101.

desired section. The applicator consists of a ring 3 of stout wire of adiameter to easily passover the bottle, and depending from which ring is a plurality of spring wire arms l which are preferably given a turn around the wire of the ring and secured tie eto as by solder. The arms el extend downwardly and inwardly, are flared outwardly at their lower ends as at 5 so as to overlie the edge or the bottle, and then turn upwardly to form a series of fingers 6 to support the lower edge of the rubber nipple 2 while engaging its inner margin at a plurality of spaced points therearound.

The arms and fingers are shown as made of one piece of wire so that one will brace the other and prevent accidental individual dis placement, though they will work for the purpose intended even if not so connected.

It should be noted that the arms extend up past the inner line of. the wire ring 3 so that when the applicator is pushed'downwards, as by a sharp blow with the palm of the hand acrossthe top of the ring, it will pass smoothly by therim or, lip 1 of the bot- Y tle without interference, and in so doing the rubber nipple will be automatically stretched outwardly at the points of engagement of the fingers and deposited in place on top or" the bottle firmly engaging the lip. The applica- Q tor is then slid right down over the bottle and oil.

This wire form of applicator also forms a useful stand in which to support either a fresh sterilized bottle or a nipple preparatory to feeding the infant.

In the form of Figs. 3 and 5 the applicator takes the shape of a pair of pliers having two confronting semi-circular jaws 7 and operating handles 8 pivoted at 9, so that when the handles are pressed together the jaws will open. Also, a stop is provided as at 10 to make the minimum closing of the jaws about equal to the internal diameter of the F rubber nipple, and they are each provided with a plurality of upstanding lugs 11 to engage the inner margin of a nipple when in position, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4 at 2.

Also to be observed, is that the jaws are depressed as at 12 to pass the rim of the nipple while supporting it in proper relation to the jaws, and that a further pair of supports extend outward from the aws as at 13 to support the opposite edge of the rim, so that, as with the wire device, the nipple will be supported and engaged at a plurality of spaced points about its edge and margin.

A further point to note is that the jaws 7 are slanted slightly so as to make their enclosed opening slightly larger at the lower edges of the jaws so that the device will slide easily over the bottle, and this may be further insured by extending several outwardly flared lugs 14 at the lower edges of the jaws so as to function the same as the outwardly flared lower ends of the wire device of Fig. 1 when the device is forced down over the bottle. Also the lugs 11 are slanted inwardly slightly so that they will easily leave the nipple as it comes in cont-act with the top of the bottle.

In use, the nipple 2 is placed in position as shown in Fig. 4, the handles pressed together, and the device pushed down over the bottle, preferably tipping the device in starting as shown in Fig. 5 to hook the far side pif the rim of the nipple over the bottle lip This form of device will deposit the nipple V on the bottle just as the wire device, but need not be passed entirely over the bottle, for if made of the proper proportions, may be removed by lateral withdrawal from the bottle.

With either device the application of the nipple is a simple operation requiring but a moments time and no effort.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A nursing nipple applicator comprising a pair of plier-like handles hingedly connected together, arcuate confronting jaws projecting from said handles arranged to open when the handles are operated, means on said jaws adapted to engage the rim of a nursing nipple and for stretching it over the mouth of a nursing bottle, said arcuate jaws when open shaped to pass down over the mouth of the bottle.

2. A nursing nipple applicator comprising .a pair of plier-like handles hingedly 0011- nected together, arcuate confronting jaws projecting from said handles arranged to open when the handles are operated, means on said jaws adapted to engage the inner wall of the rim of a nursing nipple and for stretching it over the mouth of a nursing bottle, means positioning the nipple with respect to the rim engaging means, said arcuate jaws when open shaped to pass down over the outer sides of the bottle.

3. A nursing nipple applicator comprising a pair of plier-like handles hingedly connect- .ed together, arcuate confronting jaws projecting from said handles arranged to open when the handles are operated, means on said jaws adapted to engage the rim of a nursing thereover.

WALTER D. FORBES. 

